Systems methods circuits and associated computer executable code for facilitating selective messaging and multicasting

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are systems methods circuits and associated computer executable code for facilitating selective messaging and multicasting, wherein system users are associated with one or more identifiers. And, wherein user messages or multicasts are relayed along with one or more identifiers or filtering conditions to a system server, and the system server relays the messages to users associated with the system server received identifiers or to users satisfying the system server received filtering conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of instantmessaging and multicasting. More specifically, some embodiments relateto systems methods circuits and associated computer executable code forfacilitating selective messaging and multicasting.

BACKGROUND

Instant messaging is a set of communication technologies used fortext-based communication between two or more participants over theInternet or other types of networks. IM—chat happens in real-time. Ofimportance is that online chat and instant messaging differ from othertechnologies such as email due to the perceived quasi-synchrony of thecommunications by the users. Some systems permit messages to be sent tousers not then ‘logged on’ (offline messages), thus removing somedifferences between IM and email (often done by sending the message tothe associated email account).

IM allows effective and efficient communication, allowing immediatereceipt of acknowledgment or reply. However IM is basically notnecessarily supported by transaction control. In many cases, instantmessaging includes added features which can make it even more popular.For example, users may see each other via webcams, or talk directly forfree over the Internet using a microphone and headphones orloudspeakers. Many applications allow file transfers, although they areusually limited in the permissible file-size.

It is usually possible to save a text conversation for later reference.Instant messages are often logged in a local message history, making itsimilar to the persistent nature of emails.

Still, there remains a need, in the fields of instant messaging andmulticasting, for technologies that may facilitate instant messagingand/or multicasting communication with previously unknownindividuals/users based on one or more identifiers associated withthem/their-usernames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system method circuit and computer executablecode for facilitating selective messaging and multicasting. A first usermay utilize an identifier to contact one or more second users associatedwith the identifier. System users may associate themselves, and/or beassociated by the system, with one or more identifiers, wherein each ofthe associated identifier(s) pertains to a set of one or moreassociating/associated user(s). The system may register for each of theusers, along with the identifiers associated with her/him, a Member-ID.Upon receipt of an identifier and a message from a first user, thesystem may search for other user(s) associated with the identifier.Member-ID(s) of users found to be associated with the receivedidentifier may be retrieved and utilized for saving the message, and/ora pointer/link thereto, to respective Member-ID(s) correspondingmailboxes. A push notification may be sent to each of the users havingMember-ID(s) found to be associated with the received identifier,informing them of the received message and/or offering/allowing itsretrieval.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system forfacilitating selective messaging and multicasting may comprise: (1) twoor more Computerized Client Devices, running an application, forinputting from each of their respective users, and relaying to a SystemServer: (i) a user Member-ID (e.g. username, login name, device token,GUID/combination-thereof), and (ii) one or more Identifiers to beassociated with the user Member-ID of the relaying client device; and(2) the System Server for receiving and storing the Member-ID(s) andtheir associated Identifier(s) to (3) an Identifiers Database.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, upon receipt ofa first user request including a Message and at least one userassociated Identifier—the System Server may: (i) search the IdentifiersDatabase and retrieve the Member-ID(s) of one or more second user(s)associated with the Identifier(s) included in the first user request,(ii) store the received message to (4) a Messages Database underspecific Member-ID(s) corresponding locations (e.g. files, mailboxes,inboxes, folders or the like), of some or all of the Member-ID(s)associated with the Identifier(s) included in the first user request,and/or (iii) Notify Computerized Client Devices users having aMember-ID(s) associated with ‘first user request Identifier(s)’ (i.e.Member-ID(s) of the Message's intended recipient(s)/destination(s)) ofthe new Message stored to their Member-ID corresponding location.

According to some embodiments, notifying Computerized Client Deviceusers of the new Message stored to their Member-ID correspondinglocation, may include: (i) the System Server forwarding the retrievedMember-ID(s) of the one or more second user(s) associated with theIdentifier(s) included in the first user request, to an integral, anetworked, and/or an elsewise functionally associated (5) PushNotification Server; (ii) the Push Notification Server for pushing ‘newmessage’ notifications to each of the Computerized Client Devicescorresponding to the retrieved Member-ID(s); and/or (iii) each of theComputerized Client Devices that received a ‘new message’ notification,for accessing their respective Member-ID(s) corresponding location/inboxon the Messages Database and retrieving and presenting, or rendering animage of, the Message on each of the accessing Computerized ClientDevices.

Accordingly, users may receive push notifications to their ComputerizedClient Devices, informing them that the Message has been stored to theirMember-ID associated location, and then retrieve/view it using theirClient Device Application. Alternatively, the Client Device Applicationmay intermittently access the Messages Database (e.g. through the SystemServer), check its Member-ID associated location/inbox for new messages,and retrieve and/or present new messages if such have been received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a high level illustration of an exemplary messaging andmulticasting system, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2A shows a block diagram of an exemplary messaging and multicastingsystem performing an Identifiers Association process, in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a flowchart of the main steps executed by an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, as part of an Identifiers Associationprocess, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a block diagram of an exemplary messaging and multicastingsystem performing a Selective Messaging process, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a flowchart of the main steps executed by an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, as part of a Selective Messagingprocess, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4A shows a block diagram of an exemplary messaging and multicastingsystem performing a Selective Multicasting process, in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B is a flowchart of the main steps executed by an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, as part of a Selective Multicastingprocess, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing”, “computing”,“calculating”, “determining”, or the like, may refer to the actionand/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similarelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within thecomputing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computing system'smemories, registers or other such information storage, transmission ordisplay devices.

In addition, throughout the specification discussions utilizing termssuch as “storing”, “hosting”, “caching”, “saving”, or the like, mayrefer to the action and/or processes of ‘writing’ and ‘keeping’ digitalinformation on a computer or computing system, or similar electroniccomputing device, and may be interchangeably used. The term “plurality”may be used throughout the specification to describe two or morecomponents, devices, elements, parameters and the like.

Some embodiments of the invention, for example, may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or anembodiment including both hardware and software elements. Someembodiments may be implemented in software, which includes but is notlimited to firmware, resident software, microcode, or the like.

Furthermore, some embodiments of the invention may take the form of acomputer program product accessible from a computer-usable orcomputer-readable medium providing program code for use by or inconnection with a computer or any instruction execution system. Forexample, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be or mayinclude any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate,or transport the program for use by or in connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

In some embodiments, the medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus ordevice) or a propagation medium. Some demonstrative examples of acomputer-readable medium may include a semiconductor or solid statememory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk, and anoptical disk. Some demonstrative examples of optical disks includecompact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write(CD-R/W), and DVD.

In some embodiments, a data processing system suitable for storingand/or executing program code may include at least one processor coupleddirectly or indirectly to memory elements, for example, through a systembus. The memory elements may include, for example, local memory employedduring actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cachememories which may provide temporary storage of at least some programcode in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved frombulk storage during execution.

In some embodiments, input/output or I/O devices (including but notlimited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) may be coupledto the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Insome embodiments, network adapters may be coupled to the system toenable the data processing system to become coupled to other dataprocessing systems or remote printers or storage devices, for example,through intervening private or public networks. In some embodiments,modems, cable modems and Ethernet cards are demonstrative examples oftypes of network adapters. Other suitable components may be used.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

* * *

The present invention is a system method circuit and computer executablecode for facilitating selective messaging and multicasting. A first usermay utilize an identifier to contact one or more second users associatedwith the identifier. System users may associate themselves, and/or beassociated by the system, with one or more identifiers, wherein each ofthe associated identifier(s) pertains to a set of one or moreassociating/associated user(s). The system may register for each of theusers, along with the identifiers associated with her/him, a Member-ID.Upon receipt of an identifier and a message from a first user, thesystem may search for other user(s) associated with the identifier.Member-ID(s) of users found to be associated with the receivedidentifier may be retrieved and utilized for saving the message, and/ora pointer/link thereto, to respective Member-ID(s) correspondingmailboxes. A push notification may be sent to each of the users havingMember-ID(s) found to be associated with the received identifier,informing them of the received message and/or offering/allowing itsretrieval.

In FIG. 1 there is shown, a high level illustration of an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, in accordance with some embodimentsof the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system forfacilitating selective messaging and multicasting may comprise: (1) twoor more Computerized Client Devices, running an application, forinputting from each of their respective users, and relaying to a SystemServer: (i) a user Member-ID (e.g. username, login name, device token,GUID/combination-thereof), and (ii) one or more Identifiers to beassociated with the user Member-ID of the relaying client device; and(2) the System Server for receiving and storing the Member-ID(s) andtheir associated Identifier(s) to (3) an Identifiers Database.

In FIG. 2A there is shown a block diagram of an exemplary messaging andmulticasting system performing an Identifiers Association process, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention; In FIG. 2Bthere is shown a flowchart of the main steps executed by an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, as part of an Identifiers Associationprocess, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, upon receipt ofa first user request including a Message and at least one userassociated Identifier—the System Server may: (i) search the IdentifiersDatabase and retrieve the Member-ID(s) of one or more second user(s)associated with the Identifier(s) included in the first user request,(ii) store the received message to (4) a Messages Database underspecific Member-ID(s) corresponding locations (e.g. files, mailboxes,inboxes, folders or the like), of some or all of the Member-ID(s)associated with the Identifier(s) included in the first user request,and/or (iii) Notify Computerized Client Devices users having aMember-ID(s) associated with ‘first user request Identifier(s)’ (i.e.Member-ID(s) of the Message's intended recipient(s)/destination(s)) ofthe new Message stored to their Member-ID corresponding location.

According to some embodiments, notifying Computerized Client Deviceusers of the new Message stored to their Member-ID correspondinglocation, may include: (i) the System Server forwarding the retrievedMember-ID(s) of the one or more second user(s) associated with theIdentifier(s) included in the first user request, to an integral, anetworked, and/or an elsewise functionally associated (5) PushNotification Server; (ii) the Push Notification Server for pushing ‘newmessage’ notifications to each of the Computerized Client Devicescorresponding to the retrieved Member-ID(s); and/or (iii) each of theComputerized Client Devices that received a ‘new message’ notification,for accessing their respective Member-ID(s) corresponding location/inboxon the Messages Database and retrieving and presenting, or rendering animage of, the Message on each of the accessing Computerized ClientDevices.

Accordingly, users may receive push notifications to their ComputerizedClient Devices, informing them that the Message has been stored to theirMember-ID associated location, and then retrieve/view it using theirClient Device Application. Alternatively, the Client Device Applicationmay intermittently access the Messages Database (e.g. through the SystemServer), check its Member-ID associated location/inbox for new messages,and retrieve and/or present new messages if such have been received.

In FIG. 3A there is shown, a block diagram of an exemplary messaging andmulticasting system performing a Selective Messaging process, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention; In FIG. 3Bthere is shown, a flowchart of the main steps executed by an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, as part of a Selective Messagingprocess, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments, the System Server may retrieve one ormore additional user associated identifiers, for previously registeredsystem users that are already associated with a Member-ID, from publicor private systems/databases (e.g. Ministry of Interior, Department ofMotor Vehicles, University Graduates Listings, Police or Armed ForcesRecords, Financial Institutes). The retrieved identifiers may be addedand stored to the records of the corresponding users, along with theirstored Member-ID, and possibly their self-supplied identifiers, to theIdentifiers Database.

According to some embodiments, the System Server may multicast a firstuser message to a group of one or more second users. A first userrequest may accordingly include at least one user associated Identifierand a multicasting message. The System Server may search the databasefor one or more second users associated with the Identifier included inthe first user request and communicate, using the Member-ID of each ofthe found second users, the multicast message included in the first userrequest to each of the second users found. According to someembodiments, the first user request may include multiple user associatedidentifiers, and/or one or more multicasting conditions/rules.Accordingly, a first user multicast message may be communicated to: eachsecond user associated with at least one of the multiple user associatedidentifiers, each second user associated with some (specific ornonspecific identifiers) of the multiple user associated identifiers,and/or each second user associated with all of the multiple userassociated identifiers. According to some embodiments, the system mayrequest/add positioning data (user entered/client device GPS) and/or arange/radius around the position, in which system users are to beincluded as the recipients of a broadcast/multicast message—providingthey satisfy the filtering conditions/rules.

According to some embodiments, the first user request may include, inaddition to, or instead of, the user associated identifier(s), one ormore filters, conditions, and/or exceptions (hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as: Filtering Condition(s)). The System Server, as part ofsearching the database for one or more second users associated with theidentifier(s) included in the first user request, may remove users from,and/or add users to, the search results, based on the FilteringConditions. Accordingly, a second user listed in the database andassociated with an identifier(s) in a given first user request may,nevertheless, be removed from the search results list, as he does notcomply with a Filtering Condition in the given first user request (e.g.his geographical position is beyond a threshold distance from the firstuser). Alternatively, a second user not listed in the database asassociated with an identifier(s) in a given first user request may,nevertheless, be added to the search results list, as he complies with aFiltering Condition in the given first user request (e.g. hisgeographical position is below a threshold distance from the firstuser).

In FIG. 4A there is shown, a block diagram of an exemplary messaging andmulticasting system performing a Selective Multicasting process, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention; In FIG. 4Bthere is shown, a flowchart of the main steps executed by an exemplarymessaging and multicasting system, as part of a Selective Multicastingprocess, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, usersent/received messages, stored on the Messages Database, and/or userassociated identifiers, stored on the Identifiers Database, may beinaccessible/secured, anonymous, and/or unsearchable. Accordingly, theMobile Client Device Application and/or the System Server may not allowfor, or prevent from, users to access and/or view some or all of thedata records pertaining to other users, thus creating an anonymousnetwork/environment wherein communications' sources and destinations maybe based on user-associated, possibly structured/templated (i.e. putinto templates), data (e.g. as Identifiers); and/oruser-associated/user-activity-associated, possibly structured/templated,data (e.g. as Filtering Conditions)—rather than personal useridentifying details such as the real name of the user and/or his phonenumber or e-mail address. According to some embodiments, nicknames oraliases may be associated with specific user-accounts and/or Member-IDs,possibly in a process that is substantially similar to theself-association of Identifiers with specific user Member-IDs, describedand exemplified hereinbefore.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, Identifier(s),and Identifier(s) based communication/messaging schemes with othersystem users, may include, but are in no way limited to: (1) connectingwith a driver who is driving in the proximity of the user, (2)connecting with a doctor or a lawyer whom their license number is theonly information known to the user, (3) connecting with someone whosecard number (e.g. student, diving, ID, passport, credit card, healthcare card, social security number) is the only information known to theuser, (4) connecting with someone the user saw in a sport event (e.g. amarathon race) and only knows his/her race number, (5) connecting withsomeone the user saw in a flight and only knows his/her seat number, theflight number, and/or the date of the flight, (6) connecting withsomeone whose address (e.g. zip code+block number+apartment number) isthe only information known to the user, and/or (7) connecting withsomeone the user does not know personally but he/she exposed his/hersystem nick name (e.g. on the bag while he/she was sitting in a bar or arestaurant or on their luggage in a flight).

According to some embodiments of the present invention,Broadcasting/Multicasting Filtering Conditions, andBroadcasting/Multicasting Filtering Conditions basedcommunication/messaging schemes with other system users, may include,but are in no way limited to: (1) broadcasting a regional message todrivers in the proximity of the user, or at a designated locationwherein the user is not currently present, for finding out who isleaving a car parking in, or around, the area; at, or around, a specifictime (e.g. now, this afternoon); (2) broadcasting a regional message toinform/alert drivers in the proximity of the user, or at a designatedlocation wherein the user is not currently present, about a civicinspector or a police man who gives reports or tows cars; (3)broadcasting a categorical message, for example, to: lawyers, doctors,divers, Subaru drivers, specific street dwellers, Visa holders, and/or aspecific flight passengers; that are (thelawyers/doctors/others/combinations—thereof . . . ) found in: such andsuch proximity, same town, same country, and/or the like—from thebroadcasting/multicasting user.

According to some embodiments, certain Broadcasting/MulticastingFiltering Conditions relevant data, such as positioning data pertainingto the position of broadcasting/multicasting user (of his mobile device)may be added/declared/associated on the going/fly. For example, theuser's vehicle location/positioning may be proactively and repetitivelyassociated with the user's Member-ID, through the mobile device clientapplication, each time the user initiates a regional broadcast/multicastmessage, and/or any broadcast/multicast message to which theuser's/user's-vehicle position is relevant.

According to some embodiments, Broadcasting/Multicasting FilteringConditions based communication/messaging/conversation capabilities maybe utilized by users of the mobile client application to perform userbroadcast/multicast communications/messaging/conversations to a selectedpopulation. The broadcast/multicast destinations user populationselection may be based on country, location, category, and/or any otherdetail(s). For example: to all license car holders that are 1 kilometeraround the user's (user device) current position, to all Subaru Forester2004 holders, to all Visa holders, to all running race participants(e.g. Tel-Aviv 2014 Marathon), and/or the like; and/or to anycombination of the above, or other, Filtering Conditions.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, thedeclaration/association of one or more Identifier(s) may be required inorder to communicate messages through the system. According to someembodiments, user (Member-ID) associated Identifiers may be divided intocategories by the Identifier declaring/associating user and/or by thesystem. Categories defined in the system/application may include, butare not limited to: Car (License) number, ID, Army ID, ProfessionalLicenses number (Doctor, Lawyer), Cards number (e.g. Credit card,Student card, Diving card, Air crew card, Passport number, SocialSecurity Number), Pets (Animal) chip Number, Telephone numbers (regular,cellular), Address (Zip-Building no.-Apartment No.), Events—Number ofparticipant in a sport race (Running, Bicycling), Seat number on aflight (Date, flight no.).

According to some embodiments, some or all of the Identifier categoriesmay allow for the user to utilize the client device application foradding supplemental details. For example, for a ‘car license platenumber’ category, in addition to his car license number, the user mayadd the car Manufacturer, Model, Year, Color, and/or the like. Accordingto some embodiments, for at least some of the Identifiers, the user mayutilize the client device application for adding a location—that may ormay not be his own current position. The location may not beautomatically added in order to comply with the application's ‘privacypolicy’ or ‘privacy settings’.

According to some embodiments, the user may utilize the client deviceapplication for defining new events such as, but not limited to,sporting or racing events, competition/tournament type events, and/orany multi-participant events wherein participants are identifiable bytheir association to a participant code/number/label. According to someembodiments, given user defined event(s), may appear and/or bepresented/available for use by other application users. According tosome embodiments, the system may receive/collect/harvest event relateddata from various Internet/social-network locations, and automaticallydefine events that may then be used by the users as part of theirIdentifiers/Filtering-Conditions declaration/association.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, some or all ofthe user associated Identifiers may be coupled to positionstamps/indictors provided/elected by the user and/or received from theGPS module of the user's client device at or around the time when agiven Identifier is associated with the user. According to someembodiments, based on the type and/or category of a given userassociated Identifier and the position/location of the user at the timeof the Identifier's association, the type of place/location/venue atwhich the user is present may be deducted. According to some exemplaryembodiments, a position at which one or more attorney registrationnumbers are associated—may be registered as a law office; a position, ormultiple linked positions (e.g. along a line) at which vehicle licenseplate numbers are associated—may be registered as a highway; and/or aposition at which one or more doctor registration numbers areassociated—may be registered as a hospital.

According to some embodiments, sets of multiple user(s)'positions/locations estimated/determined to belong to the same type ofplace/location/venue may be grouped to form a map of such similar typeplaces/locations/venues. According to some embodiments, multiple maps,for multiple places/locations/venues types, may be combined to form amulti-layer map, wherein each layer pertains to a differentplaces/locations/venues type.

According to some embodiments, mapped or non-mapped Identifiersassociated positions may be utilized for finding/locating stolen or lostitems/property. Accordingly, a position-coupled Identifier uploaded by,and/or being associated to, a user may be checked against systemIdentifiers related data, and/or against external databases, todetermine the ‘status’ of the entity to which the Identifier pertains.For example, a license car plate number Identifier may be used forreferencing a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Police database ofstolen and/or non-licensed vehicles; a dog chip/collar number Identifiermay be checked against other dog collar number Identifiers in the systemfor finding dog collar number Identifiers pertaining to dogs reported aslost; and/or a cattle specimen number Identifier may be checked againstother cattle specimen number Identifiers in the system for findingcattle specimen number Identifiers pertaining to specimens reported aslost or stolen.

According to some embodiments, users may be offered/requested to providetheir nickname/alias on their system signup or first login. Users maythen utilize the client device application for defining and/or managinguser groups based on the provided user nicknames/aliases, and/or basedon any other data field in the user records that is at least partiallyshared with other system users. According to some embodiments, messagesand broadcasts/multicasts may be made to one or more ‘specificIdentifier associated’ user(s), to a group of users, and/or to anycombination thereof. According to some embodiments, users may utilizethe client device application for defining and/or managing groups thatare based on different types/categories of Identifiers. For example, agroup consisting of users associated with a certain car license platenumber that was seen on a car, in combination with users having certainprofessional license/number that were taken from a signed document.

According to some embodiments, system facilitated communications,messaging, and/or conversations may include: textual data, imaging data,acoustic data, positioning data, metadata, and/or any other type orformat of digital or digitized data known today or to be devised in thefuture. According to some embodiments, system messages may include abody (e.g. text) and an attachment (e.g. video, acoustic).

According to some embodiments, as part of the system's privacy policy orsettings, user details (e.g. excluding the user's nickname) may remainunexposed to other users. Accordingly: user-details searching may beintentionally limited or altogether prevented/unavailable/non-existent;user location/position may not be automatically followed; processingand/or storage of user communications, messaging, and/or conversationsdata may be limited or altogether prevented/unavailable/non-existent;and/or integration with other applications (e.g. Facebook, Skype) may belimited or altogether prevented/unavailable/non-existent.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, further examplesof selective messaging and/or broadcasting/multicasting communications,and/or examples of user associated Identifiers and/or FilteringConditions based messaging and/or broadcasting/multicastingcommunications, may include, but are not limited to: communicating withlodgers in an apartment by sending a message to their identifier (ZipCode+Building Number+Apartment Number); communicating with lodgers in astreet, neighborhood or city by sending them a broadcast message;communicating with an air crew team by sending a message to theiridentifier (Air crew card Number); communicating with soldiers bysending a message to their identifier (Army ID); communicating withcattle owners by sending a message to the cattle identifier (Chip or EarSign); communicating with Credit Card Owner by sending a message to theCredit Card identifier (Credit Card Number); communicating with CreditCard Holders by sending them a broadcast message, wherein holders of aspecific issue company are selected, for example: Visa or MasterCard;communicating with Divers by sending a message to the diver identifier(Diving License Number); communicating with Divers by sending them abroadcast message, wherein divers are selected by their diving level,for example: 2 stars; communicating with Doctors by sending a message tothe Doctor identifier (Doctor License Number); communicating withDoctors by sending them a broadcast message, wherein doctors areselected by their professional skill, for example: Orthopedics, or bythe year of issuing of their license; defining of events wherein membersmay be clearly identified, for example: running race members who aresigned by a number, or someone who flew in flight by his seat on thatspecific flight, and communicating with the event's participants bysending a message to their identifier in the specific event (runnerNumber or Date+Flight+Seat no.), and/or communicating with members bysending them a broadcast message, for example: all members of a specificmarathon race or a specific flight; communicating with people by sendinga message to one of their specific identifier (ID Number); communicatingwith Lawyers by sending a message to the Lawyer identifier (LawyerLicense Number); communicating with People by sending a message to theiridentifier (Nick Name) when their nick name has been exposed (e.g. on: asuitcase, a handbag, a hat, a bracelet, an armlet, a bangle, or on aclip; communicating with People by sending a message to their Passport(Passport Number); communicating with People by sending them a broadcastmessage based on their Passport Type, for example: Regular, Diplomatic;communicating with People by sending a message to their Pet Identifier(Chip number); communicating with People by sending a message to theirSocial Security Number (SSN) (Social Security Number); communicatingwith Students by sending a message to their Student Card Number;communicating with Students by sending them a broadcast message based ontheir academic institute while sorting out (or not) current students;communicating with People by sending a message to their Telephone(Static or mobile) Number; and/or communicating with People by sendingthem a broadcast message based on their Country or Country CodeTelephone Prefix.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, further examplesof selective messaging and/or broadcasting/multicasting communications,and/or examples of user associated Identifiers and/or FilteringConditions based messaging and/or broadcasting/multicastingcommunications, may include, but are not limited to: communicating withPeople by sending a message to their Car License Plate Number; and/orcommunicating with People by sending them a broadcast message based on aCar Manufacturer, Car Model, Car Color, Year, Energy Source, Is4×4—wherein communicating may, for example, relate to: their carfunctioning, their driving behavior, familiarity, their leaving of aparking spot, the garage or spare parts they use, the possible sellingof their/your car, and/or for telling them about a civic inspector or apolice man who gives reports or tows cars.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, further examplesof selective messaging and/or broadcasting/multicasting communications,and/or examples of user associated Identifiers and/or FilteringConditions based messaging and/or broadcasting/multicastingcommunications, may include, but are not limited to: communicating withPeople by sending a message to their Driving License Plate Number;communicating with People by sending them a broadcast message based ontheir Driving License Properties, for example: Private, Public, Trucks,Semi-Trailer, Motorcycle, Tractor; communicating with People by sendinga message to their E-Mail account; and/or communicating with People bysending a message to their IP Address.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system forselective messaging, may comprise: two or more application runningmobile client devices each adapted for: associating system users withone or more identifiers, and relaying a first user message and one ormore first user selected identifiers to a system server; and the systemserver for relaying the message to one or more second users eachassociated with some or all of the first user selected identifiers.

According to some embodiments of the present invention: at least some ofthe identifiers may be based on identifiers of participants of an event;at least some of the identifiers may be retrieved by the applicationrunning mobile client devices from the Internet; at least some of theidentifiers may be retrieved by the system server from the Internet; atleast some of the identifiers may be associated with a geo-position; atleast some of the geo-position associated identifiers may be associatedbased on the geo-position of the application running mobile clientdevice at or around the time when the identifier was associated with asystem user; and/or at least some of the geo-position associatedidentifiers may be associated based on the category of the geo-positionassociated identifier, as selected by the application running mobileclient device user at or around the time when the identifier wasassociated with that system user.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the systemserver may be further adapted to cluster multiple sets of geo-positionsof identifiers pertaining to similar categories into a multi-layer mapwherein each layer pertains to geo-positions of a similar category.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system forselective messaging, may comprise: two or more application runningmobile client devices each adapted for: associating system users withone or more identifiers and identifier characteristics, and relaying afirst user message and one or more user selected filtering conditions toa system server; and the system server for relaying the message to oneor more second users each having identifier characteristics satisfyingsome or all of the first user selected filtering conditions.

According to some embodiments of the present invention: at least some ofthe identifiers or identifiers characteristics may be based onidentifiers of participants of an event; at least some of theidentifiers or identifiers characteristics may be retrieved by theapplication running mobile client devices from the Internet; at leastsome of the identifiers or identifiers characteristics may be retrievedby the system server from the Internet; at least some of the identifiersor identifiers characteristics may be associated with a geo-position; atleast some of the geo-position associated identifiers or identifierscharacteristics may be associated based on the geo-position of theapplication running mobile client device at or around the time when theidentifier was associated with a system user; and/or at least some ofthe geo-position associated identifiers or identifiers characteristicsmay be associated based on the category of the geo-position associatedidentifier or identifier characteristics, as selected by the applicationrunning mobile client device user at or around the time when theidentifier was associated with that system user.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the systemserver may be further adapted to cluster multiple sets of geo-positionsof identifiers or identifiers characteristics pertaining to similarcategories into a multi-layer map wherein each layer pertains togeo-positions of a similar category.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method forselective messaging, may comprise: associating system users with one ormore identifiers; relaying a first user message and one or more firstuser selected identifiers to a system server; and relaying the messageto one or more second users each associated with some or all of thefirst user selected identifiers.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, at least some ofthe identifiers may be based on identifiers of participants of an event;at least some of the identifiers may be retrieved by the system userfrom the Internet; and/or at least some of the identifiers may beassociated with a geo-position based on their identifier selectedidentifier category or based on the geo-position of theidentifier-associating system user, at or around the time when theidentifier was associated with that system user.

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While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is,therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spiritof the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for selective messaging, saidsystem comprising: a data storage containing a list of memberidentifiers (MIDs), each MID identifying a specific human member, and,for each listed MID: a. a set of secondary identifiers correlated to thelisted MID, and b. one or more mobile devices associated with the listedMID wherein the secondary identifiers are character strings, associatedwith the specific member, other than the MID and identifiers associatedwith the one or more mobile devices; a messages database configured tostore messages in correlation to MIDs; two or more client applications,each running on a given mobile client device and configured to: (i)cause the given mobile client device to communicate to the data storagean event specific secondary identifier to be associated with a givenhuman member associated with the given mobile client device, the eventspecific secondary identifier being a unique identifier of the givenhuman member assigned to the given human member by an organizer of aspecific event involving multiple human members, the multiple humanmembers involved in the event each being assigned an event specificsecondary identifier by the organizer for the purpose of the event; (ii)cause the given mobile client device to transmit to an associated systemserver a first message and a selected event specific secondaryidentifier associated with the first message, and (iii) retrieve fromsaid messages database messages correlated to the given MID; and saidsystem server being communicatively coupled to said data storage andsaid messages database and configured to: (i) receive the first messageand the selected event specific secondary identifier associated with thefirst message; (ii) identify a target MID associated with the receivedselected event specific secondary identifier in the data storage; and(iii) transmit the first message to a mobile device associated with thetarget MID in the data storage.
 2. The system according to claim 1wherein the event specific secondary identifiers are numeric identifiersassigned to participants of the event.
 3. The system according to claim1 wherein the event specific secondary identifier is retrieved by saidapplication from the Internet.
 4. The system according to claim 1wherein the event specific secondary identifier is retrieved by saidsystem server from the Internet.
 5. The system according to claim 1wherein said system server is further adapted to cluster geo-positionsof mobile devices associated with selected event specific secondaryidentifiers.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein either saidsystem server or said client applications is further configured toretrieve, from the Internet, secondary identifiers relating to memberslisted in said database and add the retrieved secondary identifiers tosaid sets of secondary identifiers.
 7. A method for selective messaging,said method comprising: maintaining a data storage containing: a list ofmember identifiers (MIDs), each MID identifying a specific human member,and for each listed MID: a. a set of secondary identifiers correlated tothe listed MID, and b. one or more mobile devices associated with thelisted MID wherein the secondary identifiers are character strings,associated with the specific member, other than the MID and identifiersassociated with the one or more mobile devices; maintaining a messagesdatabase configured to store messages in correlation to MIDs; receivingfrom each of a set of client applications, each running on a givenmobile client device, an event specific secondary identifier to beassociated with a given human member associated with the given mobileclient device, the event specific secondary identifier being a uniqueidentifier of the given human member assigned to the given human memberby an organizer of a specific event involving multiple human members,the multiple human members involved in the event each being assigned anevent specific secondary identifier by the organizer for the purpose ofthe event; receiving at a system server, from one of the clientapplications, a first message and one or more first user selected eventspecific secondary identifiers; using the system server to identify allMIDs associated with the received selected event specific secondaryidentifier in the data storage; storing the first message in themessages database in correlation with each identified MID; and relayingthe first message to client applications associated with the identifiedMIDs, by request from the client applications.
 8. The method accordingto claim 7, wherein the event specific secondary identifier is retrievedby the system from the Internet.
 9. The system according to claim 7,wherein at least two MIDs are associated with the selected eventspecific secondary identifier.